Security Breach at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
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A woman carrying a handgun managed to get past security and onto a plane at Dallas-Fort Worth International airport this morning.
It happened at Terminal D during the morning rush, shortly before 6:30 Central time. Screeners with the Transportation Security Administration apparently spotted the handgun in a carry-on bag, but by the time TSA officers went to pull the purse the passenger and taken her purse and was heading to her gate.
It appears that TSA then began looking at surveillance footage to try to figure out which passenger had the bag and where the passenger had gone. Airport police were notified. Security officials did not empty the terminal of passengers, or stop flights, although airport spokesman David Magana said officers did board flights at the 28-gate terminal D to look for the passenger before those planes were OK’d for departure. It took an hour and a half to figure out who the passenger was and where she’d gone.
The woman’s flight, an American Airlines flight to Houston, had already pulled away from the gate. Pilots were told to return, and the woman and her purse with the .38 caliber revolver were removed from the plane. The passenger was in her mid-60s and may have had a permit to carry the gun.
In a statement, TSA explained that “The owner of the bag left the checkpoint before the screening process was complete and prior to surrendering the firearm. To ensure the safety of the traveling public, TSA worked with local law enforcement to locate the passenger and firearm before the plane departed. The passenger in question was taken into custody by Dallas Police and normal operations have resumed.”
The woman, her bag and a .38 caliber pistol were taken off the jet. She reportedly told agents she had forgotten she had it Every other passenger was also rescreened leading that flight to take off over an hour late.
The TSA pointed out that the plane never took off with the gun onboard, and said its screeners catch some 1,200 guns at checkpoints every year.
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I’m not at all surprised there was a serious breach of this nature at this airport. My husband and I were returning home and arrived at the airport at about 4 am to give ourselves enough time to get through security and board our plane. When we got to the airport there was not a single soul insight. We walked the corridoor trying to find out where TSA officers were so we could get to our terminal. Still no one insight except the janitor that did not speak english. We finally found a check in person for American Airlines that said TSA does not arrive till about 5 – 5:30 am. While we stood waiting for a TSA Officer to get us through security we noticed a young girl TSA poke her head in the door from outside and look up the corridoor toward us and go back outside. I looked at my husband and said I know she saw me and I swear she is avoiding us. She then came inside the door where we were standing and said yes I saw you and I was avoiding you I hadn’t put my make up on yet. I could not believe she said that for one not to mention the fact that anyone could have walked anywhere in the airport before 5 am and just because a door says do not open yet is unlocked anyone could walk through. If you want to see for yourself arrive at the airport at 4 – 5 am and see what I mean. It’s disgusting that we have so many unemployed people right now who would love the opportunity to have this job and these TSA Officers don’t appreciate the one they have nor do they do it justice. Do we remember why we have such strict security regulations in the first place, I do.
Posted by: Cindi | January 18, 2012, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm
….I would beware of any gun toten granny’s, especially lawyers on the cusp of retirement with a plane involved. Too many things wrong with this picture. If she’s near bankruptcy, then it’s a done deal.
@cindi: People lined up to vote are just as easy a target as those arriving early at an airport, you prolly looked harmless, and as such, they just ignored you.
Posted by: RP---STAR | January 19, 2012, 9:00 am 9:00 am
Posted by: Cindi | January 18, 2012, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm—-The TSA is nothing but security theater, we get no safety out of it, and this is not the only example. They don’t search everyone so they cannot find everything, it is as simple as that, if you want to be safe flying you will have to fly naked, and someone could still choke you to death if they felt like it. All the TSA is, is a Wellfare jobs program for the uncompetitive.
Posted by: snewsom2997 | January 19, 2012, 9:52 am 9:52 am
Old Gals Rule.
Posted by: Jerry Rosen | January 19, 2012, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Maybe during the 1960′s we should have listened to them when they said, Never Trust Anybody Over 30.
Posted by: Jerry Rosen | January 19, 2012, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm